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Week 6 [02.04 - 08.04] - E mobility

Do you know what is now trendy in automotive industry? E mobility. What does it mean?

Electric vehicles. I don't know if it is still a matter of oil price or it is just a lifestyle.

What are the benefits of e-mobility? First of all -CO2 emission. Probably you heard already about problems with smog in some big city centers. In some countries you are not allowed to go to central points of cities with diesel cars. The level of pollution is so high, that i.e. in Cracow wooden ovens in restaurants are prohibited. So the problem exists and it’ s one way how to solve it.



(source: xoio.de)


The second aspect of e mobility is the reduction of commuting cost. Besides high purchase price of e vehicles (for the time being)  usage cost is quite low. To charge electric car for 100 km costs about 1,5EUR, which can be compared to 10 EUR per 100km for a fuel car.



The second advantage is very low maintenance cost. There is no gear or traditional engine. So no oil, filters and other expensive repairs. But if you face battery replacement it is not so cheap anymore. And not so ecofriendly as well. Currently there are lithium Ion batteries, which are dangerous unless stored properly.

It also may be problematic for EV users. There is a risk of auto ignition when temperature goes high. Recycling those batteries is not regulated yet, and when EVs become more popular it certainly will be a problem.



(source: http://www.theweek.co.uk)


The third thing   is the production of electric energy. Until energy is not produced in nuclear power plants, it must be created in a conventional way - that means a coal power plant. So although it reduces CO2  emission locally, in city centers, overall CO2 emission will not be reduced so much.




(source: frevue.eu)


The last negative aspect is EVs range. The highest range on the market has Tesla about 400 km using full charged batteries. But a typical range is about 150 km. Charging in super-fast chargers takes about 30 minutes. So if you want to go for a long journey, you need to plan your charging in advance.

As it is not so popular yet, you need to check where you are able to charge your EV and count charging time to the total time of your trip. In most of countries it is even not possible to plan such a trip as there are no charging places. Nowadays EV is a good alternative to traditional cars to commute, but for sure future will bring us more range capacity and charging infrastructure. And future is right behind the corner. All leading car companies already have or at least are working on a model of EV for a standard portfolio.


What do you think about emobility? 
What future awaits us?

Comments

Unknown said…
I think that only bottleneck of e-vehicles are those LiPo and LiIon batteries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9mcNvOGKtI&feature=youtu.be&t=27s
Physical damage dealt to cover causes it to burn like christmas tree. I think that e-vehicles will easily overthrowne fuel-driven cars, when suitable way of storing electrical energy is invented.
This subject is very interesting. Of course idea of looking substitution for normal fuel usage is very good, especially that it can reduce CO2 emission. We have to look for other sources for usage of vehicles. The idea of electrical cars is interesting however I can’t imagine what I can do at the high way when I am out of battery. And that I have to wait so long until it will be recharged for 30 minutes at least. It may work fine if you live in the city and you only use can in limited distances. But you should have possibility to recharge battery in you home, and I am now sure what is the cost of having such possibility also cost a little.

The other thing is that this cars are pretty expensive and there is not a lot of them so you have to buy new one, which for me is very expensive and variety of choices is small.
Marcin Konarski said…
I am wondering how many of such cars are already in use. It seems funny when I am imagining station similar to petrol station all over the city when you can charge your electrical car. As I read in Forbes article during 1,5 year in Poland only 63 cars were sold. Of course it is caused by limited amounts of point where you can charge your car, for instance I have seen only one in Galeria Mokotów parking but you have to pay for parking your car. Those cheaper cars requires few hours to charge them fully, so it cost a lot overall.

It is good solution for countries where the development of "electrical" market is much faster like Germany of Scandinavian countries.
Something about the numbers here
https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/the-week-electric-vehicles-went-mainstream

I like the idea of electric cars, but as everyone has previously stated they still need improvement. You will have no problem using them in many major cities of the world, but that's about it.

PS Hasn't there also been a recharging station near Palace of Science and Culture? I'm pretty sure it has, don't know whether it's still there.
Unknown said…
I love the idea of electric cars, and i had a pleasure to drive tesla the other day. It was amazing. I drove on all types of ninebots (kind of like segways but much better, lighter, faster, more agile). I really do hope it is the future. I think Tesla is trying to solve energy production problem as well with super solar plants and Powerwall. ( http://www.engineering.com/Portals/0/BlogFiles/tlombardo/TeslaGigafactory.JPG ). I hope that in future we will be able to make safer batteries that would have a higher capacity.
Unknown said…
In my opinion it is a great invention. But there is a "but"... As you said - it is cheaper: 100km is about 1€ and in normal car is 10 times more. But the problem is, that those electric cars are super expensive, definitely more than engine ones. As you mentioned it can only ride 150-400km without a charge and there are not that many charging points in Poland, I have seen them only few times and I was very surprised by seeing them :P I wonder how would it look like if our country was prepared for this kind of technology. Then we could say whether it's a good alternative or not.
For me it sounds very promising, but it doesn't convince me for now. But I really hope in a future it will develop and we will have an ecologic commute system :)
Unknown said…
It'e really cool topic, i think it's really innovative approach to technology. It will be developed in future for sure, maybe someday turns to be tools on daily use.
Unknown said…
I think it's a great idea, but it's still underdeveloped. In Poland it's hard to move by these cars because there are no charging stations. In Warsaw I saw only these models: http://www.bmwusa.com/bmw/bmwi. One of them is a hybrid and it has got fuel and electrical engine. Maybe now it's a good solution until the cities won't be suitable prepare for strictly electric cars. Apart from the technical aspect and environmental, I think these cars have a great design. I could buy it only for this :P
I think that electrical cars could be our future in automotive industry. They've got so many advantages, but they're require huge infrastructure to charge. So the first step to spread the e-mobility around the world should be building the infrastructure.
Unknown said…
Unfortunately I don't know enough about this subject to offer a more substantial commentary, but I'm glad companies are working to offer us an alternative to the means of transportation we've been using for ages. I hope they manage to solve the issue of CO2 emission in the future, because even limiting it locally isn't enough with the amount of damage already done. I also agree with Jagoda that a huge transformation in infrastructure would be required and that isn't cheap. It's what will prevent many countries from implementing this technology, I think. There will probably be international norms issued, but the transition will still take a long time.
Either way, I'm really excited to see what people will come up with in the future (if we don't die, as Stephen Hawking is predicting ;)).
Moode said…
Introduction of electronic cars on the automotive market certainly was an important and crucial moment. I think they can be our future. Unfortunately, at the moment, I see more minuses than pluses.
The first is the fact that the problematic disposal of batteries. In my opinion it would be another " eco-friendly " product, which would bring more harm than benefit. These batteries will be another eko-trash not suitable for recycling. Remains buried in the ground next to the pollution generated in Atomic plants.
The second fact is a small battery life and long charging process. I cannot imagine such a car in the morning on the streets of Warsaw. Most of its residents to get to work has to drive a distance of about 30-40km at the current infrastructure takes an average of about 1 - 1.5 hour. I think, that the amount of work will drain the battery of the car immediately after getting to work, and we still have to get back.
I’m skipping the issues of high prices of these vehicles, and the fact that every user should have in their own home charging station. It is also problematic to charge them in urban cities. I imagine dozens of people wanting to do it at the same time and creating a gigantic traffic jam.
Unknown said…
Electric vehicles got potential for the future, but to make them really popular developers must find some new source of energy for their cars. In this case they need to find some new type of battery, because right now the only way to make the electric vehicles exists is to built the hybrid which isn't optimal. And still for me the sound of the fuel engine is irreplaceable.
Unknown said…
I’m a big fan of electric vehicles. Petrol engines are too much inefficient to stay with them forever. My favourite EV is Tesla Model S. It looks awesome, but the maximum range and lack of superchargers in Poland makes it difficult to have. We have only one supercharger in Wroclaw which can charge your car’s batteries with the speed of 500 km/h. Nowadays EV are a great solution for a city transportation.
Unknown said…
Oh yeah it is a big problem. Many times I’ve thought that it was a fog, but it wasn’t fog because it a smog…. :/ Electric vehicles are great idea, but still it is wrong, because still it has small popularity.
I haven’t realized that it might be so dangerous- autoignition?
Thanks for your articles. I found out many about this phenomenon. I’m just more conscious observer.
I think it is good thing and good way but I still think that it needs more and more time for development.
I think that it will for the distant future generations.
Unknown said…
Electric vehicles have some potential for the future but I don't think they are going to be popular in Poland soon. I don't really know a lot about cars in general but I'm glad people are working on making cars more eco-friendly. Unfortunately electric cars are still really expensive to buy and I'm not really sure they are cheaper in use, so that maybe an issue for a lot of people.

If I'm not mistaken Norway had a program where they refunded a big part of the car's price so that more people would buy them and furthermore they have widespread charging stations.
Unknown said…
It's a fact, burn like a Christmas tree! Thank you for the video (discouraging). Thread to think. Like everything - it also has its pluses and minuses.
Unknown said…
It is true! There are many drawbacks. I agree with you. There charger which recharge a car in 10 - 15 minutes. This is a better result. And when it comes to buying a car - some countries tempt customers buying without tax.
Unknown said…
Like you, I don't see what the future of this solution in Poland. The Scandinavian countries are investing a lot in the development of electric cars. We do not. I wonder if and when the time comes for us. Right now - it's hard for me to imagine this.
Unknown said…
The rising popularity of electronic cars which may be observed by growing numbers of tesla cars ordered and sold will finaly result in proper infrastructure. At the same time solutions introduced in this kind of cars evolve so fast that i belive soon all the downsides will disappear. The idea of using electricity instead
of oil will drastically change the global market, this is the biggest fear that oil lobbyists are going to fight till the end to not make this vision come true.
Unknown said…
Also I heard of charging stations in the city center, but still - a drop in the ocean. if there was a need - stations that have arisen.
Unknown said…
This is about huge amount of money. Fuel industry can not afford for such changes;)
Pat said…
As many commenters, I also don't know a lot on the subject, but I'm really glad the effort is being put into finding a more eco-friendly way of transport. We should definately start caring about out planet more, and reducing the emmission of CO2 sound like a good start :)
Unknown said…
Yes, the Scandinavian countries as they can encourages the purchases electric vehicles. There it makes sense. For Poles buying such a car is quite an expense. The long road ahead of us. Not to mention the subsidies from the State - sweet dreams ;)
Unknown said…
I think it's a good way, but the realization of this plan - far away.
Unknown said…
I don't know much about car technology in general, so it's hard for me to take part in this discussion, but I do appreciate the fact that such things like electric cars exist and are developed. I really like this concept even though it has its technical drawbacks (the batteries issue that you mention). I think it's like taking a next step into the future and I'm curious how it will evolve.
Unknown said…
I envy driving Tesla - it must have been an interesting experience. So I just imagine myself driving an electric car - lightly and agile. I hope that the batteries will be corrected - it is important. Thank you for your comment.
Unknown said…
It baffles me that we are still powering our vehicles with the same fuel we did 120 years ago. Not digging into conspiracy theories too deep – we would all be driving electric cars if not for the big companies lobbying for petrol use. I’d love to see a working network of charging stations all around the globe. Combined with atomic energy it would be a huge step towards a healthier ecosystem.

For now I think every city should have a well organized public transport and bicycle paths. While EVs sound great and all, there are a lot of different methods of traveling around without completely ruining the environment
Unknown said…
Any attempts made are good. Analyze what is happening around us, and watch it. Maybe someday in Poland and the attempt to change the automotive world will be realizable.
Unknown said…
Exactly - what about small towns, villages? There is a lot of work. This is the plan for several decades. It is - but someone would have to be in Poland greatly take responsibility for it.
Unknown said…
They have a great design - it's true. They are refined. At the given stage - unique. Maybe one day the market is open in many countries - not only in Scandinavia. But it is probably also a very future-oriented topic.
Michał Pycek said…
I agree with all of the participants that there are advantages as well as drawbacks of electrical vehicles. As already mentioned, such countries as Denmark or Norway encourage their citizens to switch to electrical cars and as much as I know about Denmark, in the most wealthy districts of Copenhagen, 50% of cars are Tesla. To me the whole idea of eco-friendly solutions is positive, however also naive. Firstly, regardless of the exorbitant prices of electric cars, what about the charging stations ? In Poland, it is simple luck if you are able to spot such station when you stop at the petrol station to tank your car, so how would a person travel further than 100-150 km ? It would be unbelievably difficult to plan all of your trips so well to avoid missing such stations on the way to somewhere. Secondly, I have also read about the battery life, costs of change and also the batteries themselves, which are dangerous to the environment. I am a sceptic here so far, but I have a feeling it will develop and in 20 years most people will switch to electric cars, when the prices will drop, because it will not be such a luxurious good anymore.
Unknown said…
In Warsaw, a lot has changed in the expansion of bicycle paths. In the last years many drivers changed in the summer season on bicycles. The question is - what else can we do (in addition to increasing numbers of users EVs)?
Unknown said…
E-mobility is undoubtedly good for the environment. There are more and more electric cars on the roads. the more points will be charged to the car, the more these kind of cars will drive.
We should focus on our environment and focus on inventions that don’t pollute nature to such a great extent. In this way we avoid ecological disaster.
Unknown said…
It is true, it would be difficult to plan the route in relation to charging points. Large imprisonment and addiction. I can not imagine such a situation - but it probably will come a time when the charging points will be as numerous as the petrol stations :)
Unknown said…
Any attempt to change for the better, we must support. Any attempt to protect the environment deserves our approval. Perhaps today it is not realistic - but maybe one day such a solution can be possible;)
Unknown said…
It is true. Unfortunately, the power of money is stronger than the desire to fight for the environment. We'll see - may come a moment when it will change. I personally greatly cheer for the success of EVs.
Unknown said…
A good start in the future - just to find takers. Customers and investors. Countries already involved in this topic - tempt and lure as they can (this is a very good approach). Only this way can we change the most - the economic incentive.
Unknown said…
Yes it's for the future generations. Then probably also solved the problem of the battery. We can only watch as the mechanism and system rozpowszeniania EVs comes in small steps to perfection.
Unknown said…
The sound of the engine (or rather the lack of it) actually is a novelty, which we are not accustomed. But I think that any change to the improvement of the environment is worthy of change our habits;)
Unknown said…
Such charging stations would have to be as much as petrol stations - then this would have sense. Loaders are continuously improved. I think that in a few years it will be possible to charge the battery to full in a very short time. But we must still wait :)
Svitlana Bilan said…
I am more neutral concerning this topic. It is revolutionary in numerous aspects, however, I still think there is not so many people who will change their good old fashioned cars on something else. I mean as a driver who is passionate with cars there is nothing better than the feel of the working engine and its power. With electric cars I don't see it, you will have just a transport that in numerous ways equal to tram.
Unknown said…
The idea obviously is great, it has soooo many advantages. The thing is there might be a problem with making electric cars popular among people. That problem is petrol industries. It's big money and guys in charge won't let these money pass them by easily.
OlaScislewska said…
This is the future and i really believe in that! That's even not about believing in anything that is about facts which will change our lives. Iam not a technological maniac but iam quite excited about tesla cars and as budding driver i hope my next car will be electrical one. Finger crossed :)
Unknown said…
I think electric vehicles are quite a way to the future! Actually I think there is a big chance to decrease an enviromental pollution in a long time period. Also I heard these cars are very quiet comparing to gas vehicles.

I think it is a kind of new and different stuff than traditional gas cars - vehicle fans love the good old roar engines make and VE lack of it, but maybe it would create new and different fascinations? Also i think it is very versatile - just go to the western cities like Amsterdam for instance. Most of taxis are VE and charge points are in every corner. I think it is just a matter of time when VE's will rule the mobile industry and I don't think people would have problems to get used to that kind of a change.

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